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How to Trap 



The 
Boy Trappers of Beaver Bend 

Or 

Big Money From Furs 

Also secrets which professional pelt hunters use 
in taking game. How to make baits and scents, 
capture skunk and civet without odor, pack skins 
for shipment, when to trap the prime hides, how 
to mark and care for steel traps, etc., etc. 

Edited By GEORGE J. THIESSEN 

the well-known authority and writer on the sub- 
ject of traps and trapping. The reading of this 
book will bring dollars into the hands of every 
amateur pelt hunter. 



How to Trap 3 

European War Helps American Trappers! 

Trapping has long been a favorite pin-money pastime among the boys 
and young men of America. 

Now, through changed conditions wrought by war, the center of the Fur 
industry has been transferred from overseas to America, and trapping has 
become an industry of prime importance. 

Instead of being a pin-money proposition, it now gives American boys a 
chance to add materially to their income to engage in a money-making 
business. 

Before the war, Russia furnished a large proportion of each year's output 
of furs. Now the Russian source of supply is cut off. A few years ago the 
big fur auctions were held each year in London- American furs were sent 
there to be sold. Furs were dyed abroad— and part of them were sent back 
to America to be sold. 

Now the big fur auctions are held in America. St. Louis and New York 
are battling for supremacy as the leading fur market of the world. Pelts are 
dyed in America. They are sold in America. 

The automobile has played its part in the gigantic transformation. Fur 
coats by the tens of thousands are now used by automobilists, for spring, 
fall and winter driving. 

The rarer sorts of furs are becoming scarce— are often unattainable. As 
a result, the skins of common animals - skunks, weasles, raccoons, etc.— 
are becoming correspondingly valuable. These animals can be found and 
trapped right around home. Their pelts not only bring the farmer and the 
farmer boy a quick profit, but they rid the farm, in many cases, of nasty pests 
which prey upon poultry, and, in a multitude of ways, render themselves 
obnoxious. 

The conditions above outlined have resulted in a demand for furs such 
as was never known before in any country. 

The boys and young men of America can profit by this demand. To 
help them to do it, COMFORT has prepared this book. It is written by 
men who know how to trap. If you do not know how it will teach you— and 
if you do, it will show you how to trap more successfully. 

We have published this book for your benefit and have given it to you 
free, or without cost even of postage. We have done this to help you to get 
your share of the millions that will be paid this year to American trappers; 
and to do our part toward securing America's permanent hold on the 
leadership of the fur business of the world. 

W. H. GANNETT, Publisher of COMFORT.. 



How to Trap 



The Boy Trappers of Beaver Bend 



Getting Started 



JACK Wallace and I had decided to trap ! along. Nothing more rewarded us. Yet we were 

A touch of winter was in the air ; the happy, and with the help of our hired hand, we 

dry leaves were heaped in piles and gave soon had the skin on a board and hanging in 

forth a rustle when stirred by the wind, the barn. 

Fur was beginning to prime and in the Six more pelts were captured that week. We 

past few weeks my partner and I had ex- worried, however, over the traps that had been 

plored the small streams in search of dens and sprung but which had nothing in them. That 

signs. With tracks a-plenty there were prospects Sunda.v, however. Jack came running over with 

of a good catch, but since we never had made a an article he found in a magazine, showing how 

set, we were somewhat puzzled as to the best to take the various animals and market their 

methods to employ. furs to advantage. "It's just what we need," he 

Jack was a neighbor boy, just sixteen. I was said, "for it tells the reason why so many of our 

younger. The Wallace farm adjoined ours. On traps are empty. In the first place, all muskrat 

these we were going to test our skill with skunk, sets ought to be in about three inches of water so 

mink, raccoon, muskrat and the various fur as to catch by the hind legs. They are stronger 

bearers. find longer than the front ones. Further, it gives 

"I got three traps," my companion announced, a list of baits for each animal. It sa.vs here 

exhibiting them. "Could you get some?" that for muskrat decoys we ought to use apples, 

"A few," was the reply. "Father found seven carrots and turnips. You can bet I am glad 



In the shed. They are rusty 

"Let's get some of 
the rust off so tliey will 
work." 

With a piece of brick 
and kerosene we soon 
had our outfit working 
as well as could be ex- 
pected. Two of the traps 
would not work, but 
having no money, we 
had to make the best of 
things. In fact we felt 
sure we would get some 
fur and then later buy 
what we needed. 

About mid-October we 
made our first sets. 
They were along a creek 
at holea in the bank 
where signs were nu- 
merous. 

"Huh!" Jack grunted, 
slipping from the bit of 
sod upon which he stood 
and landing almost to 
his waist in water. "I'll 
bet that scared every- 
thing in Beaver Bend. 
Further" — and his teeth 
began to chatter as he 
climbed on shore — 
"when 1 get home " 

A splash sounded 
nearby and some ani- 
mal swam up the 
stream and disappeared 
in a swirl of mud and 
scum. 

"What's that?" we 
chorused. 

Neither answered. We stood watching. Noth- 
ing further took place. Then, without speaking, dip the pelt in water you can more readily see. 
we started toward home, each dreaming of the You will notice," he continued, "that the fur looks 
money he would make by selling furs. almost white and the tips black — a sort of a 

The next day we were up before the sun. spotted effect. Other mink show a dark brown, 
Soon we reached our first set. It had not been as a rule, when tested as I have explained." 
disturbed. The next was the same. Our hopes Ice had formed on the creek, not thick, but 
fell. Should we catch nothing at all ? strong enough to prevent the animals getting 

Down the stream we went. Our third trap into our traps when set at the foot of slides, 
held something. The animal was tugging at the Again, we obtained information from an old pelt 
chain. A blow dispatched it. "Look," Jack hunter who said we should put a small bag of 
yelled, "it's a big rat. What " coarse salt under each set, for this would pre- 

"I know," was the interruption. "That is just vent freezing unless the weather was very cold, 
like the muskrat father killed last summer in the When we tried it, the plan worked successfully 
barnyard. It's valuable, too !" and we got several more skins. 

"You bet," was the reply. By this time the muskrats became wary — or 

Carrying the fur bearer by the tail we hurried at least they seemed that way to us. With un- 




A 



';•'. 



ODR THIRD TRAP HELD SOMETHING, THE ANI 
MAL WAS TUGGING AWAY AT THE CHAIN. 



Aunt Jane subscribes to 'Comfort^ and has the 
old issues. I will look 
them all up and then 
we are bound to have 
better luck." 

"You're right," I 
agreed. "If we only 
had these sooner, we 
would have caught more 
fur." 

We also learned that 
a bit of white paper 
or cloth would often 
draw the muskrat when 
all other lures failed. 
This is because the ani- 
mals are inquisitive. 

The days passed. The 
number of skins in- 
creased rapidly. 

A couple of weeks 
after we placed our first 
traps, we took a large 
mink. We did not un- 
derstand why this hap- 
pened, since all our sets 
were for muskrat. Later 
we learned that mink 
often visit the various 
dens in search of food 
and the one we had 
taken simply blundered 
into the trap. Not long 
afterward we caught an- 
other also which the lo- 
cal dealer pronounced 
as "cotton." 

"What's cotton?" we 
asked. 

"That," said the buy- 
er, "is a grade of mink 
with the under hair white or nearly so. If you 



How to Trap 



baitod traps wo caiiRht very few. However, hy 
usins some small apples we suc('eede<l in lakiiiK 
eleven. Our mclhod was to select a place not 
too deep and where the current i>roved strong 
enough, .so (hat the ice would not bother. 
Then, on sticks inclined slit:!itly, we put the 
decoy just al)ove the water. The vegetables, of 
course, were ;.'uarded hy steel traps. 

As the season a<lvanced we had to make most 
of our sels in deep water, with the e.xception 
of those at the mouths of the dens. So we 
used a slanting' hoard. We shoved one end into 
the m\id and supjiorled the other with stakes 
so that the top of the hoard was fully si.x inches 
above the surface. On this top, wo arr.'inKe<l 
a parsnip. .lust beneath the w;i(er we drovt 
some small nails to hold the trai> in idace. Com- 
mon sense was the jiuide which tauj^ht us to 
idace the ordinary style ti-aj) witli (lie sprinji 
nearest the surface, ("oinpletins this, we smeared 
mud over the board. With this arrangement we 
took nine sl<ins, for it seemed th;it every animal 
jiMssin^' would attempt to climb the board (o gnaw 
the vegetable and as a result get cauf,'ht. Of 
course the staking was in deep water and the 
fur hearers would drown quickly. We didn't lose 
a single hide — ;ind also learned that whenever 
possible the chains ought to be fastened in at 
least eighteen inches of water. Small lengths of 
bale wire also proved handy when the chains 
were too short. 

Our collection of furs grew from day to day. 
Then — our traps were gone. Where? Tracks in 
the mud gave us no clue, for we had been care- 
less in leaving signs. 



"What will wo do?" I asked. 

.Tack scratched his head. "Do !" he repeated. 
"The oidy way I can see is to sell our furs and 
buy another outfit." 

"Yes," was the reply. "Only where shall wo 
sell?" 

"In the village, if we wi.sh, to Sam Wolf. He 
buys furs, luit he doesn't pay very much. Let's 
pick out one of the advertisers in 'Co.mi-orx' and 
give him a tiial." 

••<ir)od." was my answer. 

Accordingly, we hurried home and from the 
publication selected a concern which from their 
talk certainly seemed to be fair and liberal. We 
sewed the pelts in a gunny .sack, after h.-iving put 
our name aiid address inside the [lackage. to- 
gether with (he number of skins and kind. Then 
we wrote the dealer and asked him to send a 
check. 

K.x.'ictly three days aftenvards, the returns 
came in. 

With trend)ling fingers. Wallace ofiened the let- 
ter. It containi'd several dollars more than we 
actually e.xpected and more than we should have 
received from our local dealer. "Now for the 
hardware store and some traps," I shouted. 
"Come on." 

We lived about a mile and a half from town, 
but the distance soon was covered. There we 
.selected a dozen and a half Number Ones and 
six "jumps" of the .same size. The merchant 
gladly cashed our check and gave us the re- 
mainder. This Jack and I divided before starting 
home. The money jingling in our pockets made 
pleasant music as we tramped across the fields. 



Adventure with Skunks 



COI-D weather came and muskrat trap- 
ping began to get poor. The animals 
were not very active and we had prac- 
tically cleaned up our grounds. True, 
we could have made our sets farther 
down the stream, but if we had done 
this we should not have had the time to look 
after things properly, for we were going to school. 
Hence, we pulled up our traps and looked around 
for signs of mink, raccoon, opossum and skunk. 

Our reading of all articles about trapping gave 
us information of great value. In the first place, 
we knew in a general way where to look for 
fur bearers, and then signs. Through a neighbor 
•we learned the use of a flash-light which enabled 
us to search for tracks we should othenvise have 
passed by. xVgain, when we were dubious about a 
den which might be that of a skunk, all we had 
to do was to throw the rays into the hole and 
if we saw black, white, or black-and-white hair, 
we knew we could arrange our traps with a 
surety of getting fur. 

Our folks gave us positive instructions not to 
trap skunk. Yet the price lists we received 
showed that it was well worth our time to make 
sets for them. Accordingly, we put our traps out. 

The first set we nmde was in a weed patch, 
at the entrance to a burrow. No bait of any 
kind was used. While we caught three animals 
and killed them with a club, there was practi- 
call.v no odor. AYe early learned to staide our 
traps to some object which was too heavy for 
the anim.ils to move or carry into the holes. A 
long pole proved effective, as did a piece of 
brush. As soon as we discovered this we had no 
trouble in moving our sets. 

"Try this," said Wallace. "Let's build small 
three-.sided pens where there are skunks, and 
use bloody meat as bait. We'll guard the lure 
with one or more traps. I read that if we did this 
we could take several pelts from the same den." 

"It stands to reason," I agreed. "With burrow 
sets it is impossible for us to capture more than 
one skunk at a time from a hole. Let's get busy 
at once and see what we can do." 

The next few hours we spent looking for likely 



locations. With rocks, sticks and other material, 
we made the pens according to directions. For a 
decoy we used pieces of r.-ibbit flesh. 

When we finished, results seemed certain. 

We were up bright and early. Disappointment 
stared us in the face. Four of our trat)s were 
not sprung, yet the bait was gone. What got 
it? Neither of us knew. We baited again as 
before and went home sorely puzzled. The hired 
man on our farm — he had done some trapping — 
gave us a clew. 

"Y'ou're fine ones," he said. "Don't you know 
that crows and hawks got the flesh? Go right 
back at once and cover the pens with a thin 
layer of weeds or brush." 

.Tack and I did so ! 

We had no trouble whatever catching skunk, 
for we found that the animals seemed to have 
no fear of the traps and would actually step 
into bright, new ones. Experience taught us, 
however, that if we hid our sets right, we could 
expect once in a while a mink or raccoon. They 
would not approach a bright new trap. 

We learned that the proper way to conceal a 
.set was to dig a small hole just large enough 
for the trap, so that when it was .set the jaws 
were slightly below the surface of the ground. 
For a covering, the best thing was something 
that grew nearby — that is, green grass ought 
not to be employed when a set was made on 
dry ground. If dust or sand were used, we had 
to put a wad of cotton or wool under the pan 
so no foreign substance would hinder the trap 
from springing. Further, in di2ging the excava- 
tion we had to locate this so that the water 
did not drain into it and freeze. When this 
happens the trap is useless. 

Jack wanted to try prepared scents. 

"It's easy," he said. ".Ml you have to do is 
to get some small fish and cut them up fine. 
Leave these rot in the sun and use the oil. The 
bait is good for all flesh-eating animals." 

"We'll make some," I agreed. 

This we did, and the result was a lure that 
proved reliable. 



How to Trap 



We caught skunk almost every day, with We brought water from a schoolhouse pump m 

baited and unbaited sets. In fact, we had no an old tin can, but we couldn't get the pup to 

trouble whatever im getting them ready for mar- notice it. What to do we had no idea, for if 

ket without odor. We were about to devote all David knew- , .^ ^ . .,„ 

our time to taking this animal when the unex- "Hey ! What you kids doing? „, ^ ^ 

pected happened Jones hailed us trom the road. We had not 

We got a large Broad Stripe in one of our noticed him approach. Wallace and I were in- 

traps near a small country school, — but how to capable of speecn until we saw the amused grin 

get him out was the problem. That skunk was on his face. 



a terror and the air certainly was scented. 

This experience was new to us. We had han- 
dled our first sets with ease and did not know 

what to make of this last animal. Afterwards, ^ , ,^ +, ^ . ^- , 

we learned that some boys had teased the fur now and don t go nearer that 'stink cat' 
bearer— threw rocks your folks won't € 



"Trappin'," I stammered. 
Jack nodded. 

"So I see — or rather smell," he remarked. 
'And with my dog, too. Well, you hike home 



and clubs at it. If 
this had not been done, 
most of the odor could 
have been eliminated. 
Thus we discovered 
something new about 
catching skunk. 

Closer than a hundred 
feet we dared not ven- 
ture. The animal stared 
at us defiantly. The 
thing must be killed, 
but how? 

"Let's get Towser?" 
my companion sug- 
gested, referring to a 
dog that David Jones, 
another neighbor, owned. 

I agreed — and yet du- 
biously. I knew Jones 
was particular about 
this half-grown pup. 

"You go," I suggested. 

"Naw !" Jack rebelled. 
"Anyway, you can 
whistle louder. Just 
sneak behind his corn 
crib and call the dog." 
So I started off while 
my partner watched the 
skunk. 

Luck came my way. 
A couple of hundred 
yards from the Jones' 
place the pup was in- 
dustriously barking and 
digging at a hole. It 
took some persuasion 
upon my part to get 
Towser to leave, but 
after I fastened a string 
around his neck, he 
came trotting along. 

The dog needed no 
further urging. As soon 
as he saw the skunk he 
gave one jerk and 
was free. Straight 
toward the fur bearer 







nC'^O* 



WE GOT A BROAD STRIPE IN ODE TRAPS NEAE A 
SMALL COUNTRY SCHOOL. 



even 

let you sleep in the 
barn. The dog can come 
home when he gets 
ready — and I hope it 
won't be before next 
week. He's sick all right 
but nothing serious. 
Glad you got that 'cat,' 
for it will save me a lot 
of chickens. And say — 
ain't the pup a game 
one?" 

Once more at our ease, 
we sauntered off, never 
suspecting that there 
was the slightest odor 
on our clothes. The 
hired man told us as 
we walked into the barn 
at our place. 

"Suffer'n cats !" he 
ejaculated. "You'll catch 
it now. Whew !" 

My partner and I both 
sniffed. 

We could detect no 
smell whatever. Fur- 
ther, we had not been 
near the skunk, so how 
could there be? 

"You're fooling us," 
Jack retorted hopefully. 
"You think " 

"Nothing of the sort. 
The air has carried 
the smell into your 
clothes. Now you two 
kids go out into the 
corn crib and take 
some gasoline. Soak 
a cloth in it and then 
go over your duds. 
After that, walk down 
to the further meadow 
and drive up the cows. 
The fumes will be 
evaporated by that time 
hope all the 



and I 
he flew. The trapped smell. And say," he added, "be sure you have 
animal was ready — and waiting. no matches in your pocket." 

Everything happened at once. The air was Wallace and I followed directions. Whem we 
"blue." Towser sneezed ; gave the skunk a final returned, the hired man pronounced us all 
shake ; walked a few feet and regretted it. right. 



Lessons in Mink Trapping 



OUR catch of furs graduallv accumu- 
lated. With the aid of Jim Welch, 
the man who worked for father, we 
learned many things which were of 
value to us on the trap line. For one 
thing, he showed ns how to skin skunk 
without puncturing the scent bag which lies at 
the root of the tail. "You kids," he said, "ought 
to cut around these glands, leaving a small patch 
of fur. This does not affect the value of the hide 
in the least. 

We could hardly believe it — but then since 
Jim had trapped for years, we were forced to do 



so — and it was true. 

Another trick — if we might call it that — ^was 
killing these fur bearers without odor. Jim told 
us to shoot the skunk just back of the head so 
that the bullet cut the spine. This paralyzed 
the asimal and kept it from throwing its fluid. 
Welch had a long-barreled pistol which he said 
he would let us use provided we took good care 
of it. He told us that any short-barreled weapon 
was dangerous. 

Welch also pointed out that care must be taken 
not to excite the animal, and he told us to have 
the bullet come out in the neck so the skin was 



How to Trap 



not damaged. "If you puncture the belly," he 
Stated, "you cannot get as much for the fur as 
it would otherwise be worth. Uenieiuber this 
before shooting." 

"Hut what about skunk oil?" I asked, knowing 
it was prized by certain people for colds 
can render it out and " 



Jack and I, who had caught most of our furs 
by tills method, looked foolish. "Anyway," we 
persisted, "won't bait lure the animals?" 

"Certainly, but it has to be used just right. 

That lish oil you made is dandy, provided you 

"We employ it as it should be. However, with the 

sets 1 have descril>ed, you do not need it.' 



"iJetter not waste your time," was the answer. We two sat listening, trying as best we could 
unless you want it yourself. So far sis 1 know, to learn all about the art of trapping. Jim, it 



there is no real market lor skunk oil 

During tlie ne.xt tew mouths we caught a num- 
ber of skunk and bad no trouble wliatever. But 
as the weather got colder, tlie animals denned 
up and did not travel much. Then we decided 
to go after mink, of 
which there were a few 
signs along the streams. 
"How will we catch 
them?" I asked. 
"Let's asJi Jim." 

".Ml richt." 

At'cordingly wo sought 
out the hired man. 

When we told him 
what we were after, he 
shook his head. "I'm 
afraid," he answered, 
"these animals are too 
cunning for you. In 
fact, many professionals 
find them very dithcuU 
to take. However, 1 
know some sets which 
are bound to bring re- 
sults, provided you make 
them as the.v should be. 

Naturally, we prom- 
ised to do it. 

"In tlie fir.sst place." 
our teacher continued, 
"the best locations for 
the mink are along the 
small, slow streams. 
The reason for this is 
that the banks of these 
are usually overgrown 
witli weeds so as to 
hide the dens. Further, 
the rh.iTinels are choked 
■with th-ift-wood. giving 
the fur bearers a chance 
to hunt unobserved, and 
the sh.ll lows contain 
small fish, crabs, etc., 
which the animals can 
get with little trouble. 

"Von must leave no 
and last, but not least 







WE WATCTTED HIM ARRANGE THE TRAPS, WAD- 
INO IN THE CREEK FOR A DISTANCE BEFORE 
REACHING THE SPOT AND AFTER LEAVING IT. 



seemed, had had considerable e.\perieuce, and we 
were more than glad to have his help. 

"Kut when do we use decoy?" Jack inquired. 
" 'Whenever you can't catch them any other 
way,' is a good rule to follow, (if course, once 
in a while an at tractor 
is necessary, and, when 
it is, small bits of musk- 
rat or rabbit work fine, 
especially if your fish 
lure is used in connec- 
tion with it." 

"Give us a sure set," 
I pleaded, "some- 
thing " 

"There are no sure 
sets. About as good a 
one as I know is to dig 
small pockets along the 
edges of a .steep bank 
and put the decoy in the 
back part so the water 
will not touch it. When 
you place traps like 
this, it is best to wade 
along a stream and 
leave no tracks in the 
mud ; that is, as few 
tracks or signs as pos- 
sible. If you are able 
to do this, you will find 
you have advanced con- 
siderably." 

"But " 

"Suffering cats !" — 
Jim's favorite expres- 
sion. "I see that I will 
have to find time to 
show you fellows how 
to arrange your traps. 
But if I do, you will 
have to help me with 
my work. I have .some 
harnesses to oil, and 
you kids can get busy 
ripht now. 



A0« 



"It's a go !" we shouted, 

signs of your presence. Accordingly, we "pot busy" and helped the 

have your sets arranffe<l hired man with his work. In fact, we showed 

so that tlie place looks the same after yotir visit our appreciation in every way we could, for we 

as before. The male mink is a wanderer, often realized that Welch had caught furs before and 

traveling miles in a nisht, while the female rarely knew just how to make the sets and prepare the 

goes farther than a half mile from its den. Yon skins for market. 



can tell the track of the male from the female 
at this time of the ye.ir by the size, for the 
former will be larger. 

"You will have the best results when the 
sets are in water. If you can find places under 
overhanging banks where the animals travel. 



That afternoon we labored with a will. The 
Mext morning, bright and early, we started out 
with our traps, hoping to catch a number of 
mink on Beaver Bend. 

The ice had formed a thin crust on the creek, 
.lim took the lead and passed by places where 



scoop out excavations for your sets and trust my partner and I thought we could take pelts. 

to luck. Probably you will not get many furs "Don't bother with 'em," our instructor remarked. 

until you have had "considerable experience, bat "Go down where the drains empty and there 

then you can get that only by trying. you will get results." 

"If you find places where the mink enter the There were several tiles flowing into the stream. 

■water, place traps, using no bait whatever. Stake When we came to these places we did not spend 

your sets where it is deep, so the fur bearers much time except to see where there were tracks. 

will drown when caught. During cold weather- — The sets were made with the Newhouse style 

understand the mink will travel regardless of traps and the springs were farthest from the 

the temperature — the best sets are arranged at drains. 

springs and the mouths of tiles." "If there are no signs." Jim explained, "re- 

"Oan we u.se bait?" verse the position. Bv this I mean have the 

"Surel.v^— only don't do it if you can arrasge a jaws farthest from the tiles." 

blind set." Both of us declared we understood. 

"What's a 'blind set*?" "Now. there." Welch pointed, "is a dandy place 

He looked at us in surprise. "You ought to to take the mink. See tliat hollow log?" 

know." he replied. "It is a set with no lure We nodded. 

whatever, and hidden." "Put a trap at each entrance and as© no decoy. 



8 



How to Trap 



If the water is too deep, build a base for the 
sets ; if too shallow, scoop out an excavation. 
The first fur bearer coming along will try to 
enter, and get caught, provided the sets are 
properly made." 

We watched him arrange the traps, wading 
in the creek for a distance before reaching the 
spot and after leaving it. "You will notice," 
he explained, "that after I touched the log I 
splashed water over it to destroy the human 



scent. Always do this when after the mink." 
"How are we going to remember it all?" I 
asked. 

"Easy enough," Jim answered. "You will ab- 
sorb the little details as you become more ex- 
perienced on the trap line." 

Frankly, this was not encouraging, since we 
had listened to so much advice that we hardly 
knew where we were at. Nevertheless, we were 
anxious to learn and do our very best. 



The Windup of The Season 

THE next day it snowed. placed the sets on bags of coarse salt, which I 
The weather became colder and had to go back and get. He said that if the 
colder and the strong north wind drove weather did not get too cold the salt would 
the ice-like flakes with the velocity of prevent freezing and that mink are sure to enter 
shot. However, we did not let this the open water at every opportunity when travel- 
deter us from visiting our traps, and ing back and forth, 
well were we pleased whea our first set contained "Something else for us to remember," Jack 
a medium brown mink. It was alive and at our said, 
approach pulled the trap into the tile. "Yes," I answered. 

"Be careful," the hired man warned us. "Let's Farther down the stream where we had another 

see if it is caught .securely. I lost three pelts tile set, we found a small mink, frozen stiff. It 

when I first began because I was in too big a was a female which, as the farm hand stated, 

haste." rarely got larger than the medium size. 

We exami'ned the hold of the jaws. They We hastened home, for it was almost time to 



were clamped securely 
on one of the hind legs 
of the animal. "You got 
him, all right," my 
partner exclaimed. "Now 
a shot " 

"Hold on," our teach- 
er interrupted, "you'll 
spoil the hide." 

We waited expec- 
tantly. 

"The way to do it is 
to get the mink so you 
can stun it with a blow 
on the head. Then, to 
avoid blod clots on the 
skin, crush in the ribs 
with your hands." 

The man illustrated 
his advice with a dem- 
onstration, explaining 
that while stains on the 
leather do not really af- 
fect the value of fur, at 
the same time it pays 
in dollar,? and cents to 
have the pelts look as 
well as possible. 

"Where will we set 
the trap?" I asked. 

"Just where it was," 
came the reply. "You 
see, when you catch one 
mink at a spot you are 
almost sure to take an- 
other. Now, Jack, show 
us just how to make 
this set, as I showed 




^IT'S A coon!*' jack exclaimed. 



feed the horses. We, too, 
were hungry — and even 
more proud, for we had 
taken two skins which 
would bring about seven 
dollars. Trapping had 
not only proven a plea- 
sure to us but a source 
of knovi'ledge about wild 
life. Best of all was 
the cash — easy money, 
so to speak, which al- 
most any farm boy can 
earn in his spare time. 

During the next week 
we caught three more 
mink, and two musk- 
rats, which were now at 
their best. The thick, 
glossy fur of the latter 
was finite different from 
the thin-pelted skins we 
had taken in the fall. 
It did not take much 
comparison to see why 
the buyers could — and 
would — pay more for 
the late winter "rats" 
than for those caught 
in the fall. 

Skunk continued to 
den up. They had lain in 
the burrows for weeks. 
In fact, we had almost 
forgotten about them 
when the hired man 
called our attention to 
these fur bearers by 
saying : 



you yesterday." 

My partner started to scrape away the surplus "Warm spell coming." 

dirt that the animal had torn up. "Don't dis- "Yes," I agreed, more from force of habit than 

turb anything," was the injunction. "Always actual knowledge of the weather, 

leave conditions just as you find tliem. Here, "Skunk'll be out tonight." 

hide that chain and then dash water over the "Will tliey?" — surprised, 

set so as to destroy the odor." "You bet." 

We marveled at the skill the farm hand showed. "Will you help?" was my answer. 



There was so much to learn about trapping, we 



'Yes. As soon as you are finished, go get 



despaired of ever mastering the art. And yet Jack and we will see what we can do. I have 

with a knowledge of the habits of the fur bearers, had an eye on several places and with the pen 

combined with common sense, we somehow knew sets such as you two made and an attractive bait, 

that we should succeed. you ought to get a good haul." 

The next traps were empty and one of them I hurried with my work as fast as possible, 

was frozen so it was useless. We found there Soon I was at my partner's house and found 

was little hope of getting mink in places where him just as eager to place the traps as I. In a 

the water had receded, leaving the .sets high and short while we were back and waiting, 
dry. Our instructor took up the traps, and Down the stream we walked, pulling up sets 

then selecting a shallow place in the stream, which had not given results for weeks. Our 



How to Trap 



teacher said there were chances of success with 
them yet, luit not so koo<1 as tliose for takiiiu 
slxUnliS. However, lie would not toiicli the tile 
sets, for ho said that mink also i-iin "when the 
weather is soft," and nndouhtedly wi' shonlil 
(•••itcli several iielts that ni^,dil. To me this sei'iiicd 
douhlful, for I had not seen si^ns for (iiiite a 
Ion;; time, even though we had been alon}; the 
ereek daily. 

One trap was lost. It had been cone for days. 

"Somethiiiii carried it away," Jim mumbled, 
when we told him. 

We said nothinfj- 

"It wasn't staked good," he remarked a few 
minutes later. 

And then under some weeds near the edge of 
the water we found the missinj; Victor with a 
small mink in it, pale in color. 

"Look !" Jack shouted. 

Before I could answer, the hired man had the 
fur bearer in his hands and was pulling the fur. 
"Not tainted," he said presently, "and yet it is 
a wonder that it isn't. With the freezing and 
thawing, most of them spoil. Jlowever, if this 
grades a number two I shall he satisfied." 

"I'.ut wliy?" was my <iuestion. "It was 
cauglit " 

"That doesn't make any difference," was the re- 
ply. "The leather will sliow blue when it is dry, 
even though the fur is as good as the prime. 
Nevertheless, dealers will not buy it for first 
quality and cannot sell it as such. And" — he 
added, as an afterthought — "this very thing 
causes the misinformed to complain about the 
prices they receive when it really isn't the 
buyers' fault at all." 

It was not long until we had what traps we 
needed and w(>re on our way to the pasture 
where the skunk dens were located. We made 
our sets so carefully that they met with the ap- 
proval of the man who had tauglit us so many 
things about making money with steel traps. 



The next days wore busy ones for us. We took 
eight skunk before the we.-itlier got colder anrl 
the animals stopped running. However, at a 
tile \\v. discovered a trap missing and strange 
tracks, somewhat resembling tlie iniprint of a 
baliv's foot. 

"What is it?" Jack asked. 

"I don't know." 

W(» were undecided what to do when some- 
thing stirred in the brush a few yards distant, 
lioth of us started on the run to investigate. 

"It's a 'coon !" Jack e.\<-laimed. "I saw one 
once that the Duncan boys caught with their 
hounds. (Jce, it's a whopjier I" 

\Vith ii club we killed the fur bearer. It was 
not until that time w<> notice<l tluit the soft pine 
stiike had been gnawed in two. "We've learned 
something el.se," I remarked, "even tliough the 
animal wandered into the set. While there are 
not many around h(>re, at tin- same tinn- we will 
know when we put out traps for them to use a 
strong fastening." 

School started again and we did not have much 
time to devote to anything else. However, we 
managed to look at our .sets each morning and 
we took a few skins. Later, when it thawed, we 
had better luck, but as soon as the freshet came 
booming down, we jiulled uji our sets and sold 
our catch. The hired man told us that skunk 
get springy first and of poor quality, followed by 
the raccoon and mink. I'.y "springy"he meant the 
fur was conunencing to shed — in fact, the hide 
had deteriorated so they were nearly worthless. 
Muskrat are good longer but ought not to be 
taken after they begin to mate. 

Ja<'k and I received sixty-eiglit dollars for our 
last lot, and were well pleased. The season had 
been i)rotitable and hail paid us generously for 
our spare time. 

The traps were washed carefully, then greased 
with tallow. After this, we hung them in the 
shed where it was dry, and next October we 
shall find them ready to be set again. 



Where to Look For 

Signs of Animals 



THE young trapper is handicapped for 
the reason that he does not know where 
to look for signs of the animals. Un- 
like the professional, he is not trained 
to see this mark — that track — which 
indicates where a fur bearer can be 
caught. In fact, the novice trusts largely to 
luck in the location of his sets, and to reme- 
dy this he must become a close observer 
of conditions. Time spent in doing this pays big. 
In order that the young trapper may know 
.iust where to look for tracks and signs of fur 
bearers. I will briefly point tliem out : 

Skunk and Civet Cat. — Around weed patches, 
along old hedges, in dried-up creek bottoms, un- 
der abandoned houses and barns. As a riile, both 
animals prefer to locate their dens where it is 
rough and stony. 

Mink. — Small streams are best suited to this 
fur bearer. They offer concealment for the bur- 
rows, also an abundance of small fish, mussels, 
and similar foods that are easy to obtain. Do 
not neglect flowing tiles, half-submerged hollow 
logs and slides around roots which overhang the 
water. 

Weasel (Kumine). — No definite places can be 
given except where there is an abundance of food 
and game to he killed. (The weasel will kill 
purely for the sake of killing, even when it has 
all it can eat.) Around stone and post piles, 
good catches have been made. Often weed patches 
yield several skins, especially if the ground is 
rough and somewhat rocky. 



Mi'SKRAT. — Always near or on water. Shallow 
lakes, marshes and streams offer the best places 
to look for them. 

Haccodn and Orossi'M. — The former is usually 
close to water. Swamps are good trapping 
grounds, particularly in the South. The 'possum 
likes woods, and it is an old saying that the 
deejter the thicket, the more opossum. Small 
ditches often supply the trapper with excellent 
l)laces for sets. 

The use of a small tubular flashlight, made 
especially for pelt hunters, will i>ro\e a great aid 
to the yomig pelt hunter. For inst.-mce. lie can 
examine places under shelving banks for mink 
without disturbing the roots. With the rays he 
can .see tracks and signs which otherwi.se would 
be never noticed. 

Again, the flashlight ma.v be employed in dis- 
tinguishing between dens used by the skunk and 
civet cat and other animals. If black, white, 
or black and white hairs, are observed along the 
sides of the burrows, one may make his sets 
with chances of setting fur instead of rabbits. 
In many jtlaces rabbits use holes ver.v similar 
to the dens of the skunk and civet. Of course 
the experienced trapiier generall.v has but little 
trouble in telling the difference, but the t\To 
needs a light. In selecting this, it is best to 
set one that can be carried handily in the coat 
pocket. Be sure a good one is purchased so 
that it can be depended upon when needed. I'se 
the flashliffht every day and see how soon you 
will be able to get used to the various tracks 
and signs the furbearers leave. 



10 How to Trap 

Baits and Scents 

to Use Trapping 

THERE are many patent baits and a few clays and the attractor is ready for use. 
scents upon the market todav, some of Beaver castors may be obtained from almost 

which are pood, others fairly good— any large fur house, drug store, etc Only a 

and some absoutely worthless. The very little is necessary to produce results, 

competition for furs makes a lure al- hoivTnto rmixture'T-ilcohof'^lni'^e oTand 

fn,..» th."""'^ a necessity, but it should not Sfu.i^to^a^ m^ixtme^^of akoh^^^^ 

force the novice to buy a bait simply because excellent also. When after the opossum, few 

the manufacturer recommends it highly. On the jj^its are better than ordinary sardines put up 

other hand, the beginner in most cases does not j,j ^il 

need bait to catch fur bearers as much as he Never put the bait on the trap. This has 
needs a knowledge of where and how to place a tendency to scare away the fur bearers by 
his traps. calling their attention to the sets. While I say 
We admit, however, that attractors are almost never to do this, there is one exception I should 
a necessity. While there are several I should mention perhaps and that is this : A bright ob- 
not hesitate to recommend among those offered .iect such as tin or piece of looking glass fixed 
for sale, space does not permit me to enumerate to the pan. provided the laws are hidden, will 
.iust which they are. Nevertheless, in order not cause the raccoon to investigate. This it does 
to disappoint my reader, I will show him how with a paw. trying to scoop the bright object 
to make his own decoy, as effective as much out of the water. If the set haj! been made 
of it is sold at fancy prices. Even if this lure is properly, of course the animal is caught, 
not the best, at the same time it will attract Fresh, bloody meat is good, as a rule, for all 
the animals into sets, and that is what we want, small fur bearers with the exception of the musk- 
Most beginners are located in rural districts rat. During cold weather, frozen flesh loses some 
where the houses are not far apart. It is evi- of its power to attract. On the other hand, when 
dent that manv of the fur bearers get an abun- it is warm, meat does not always give the best 
dance of food from the farms. For this reason, results either. To use bait successfully, the pelt 
our bait must be something different from meat hunter must keep constantly ex))erimenting. What 
or vegetables such as the animals get, as a rule, is excellent one place may prove worthless, or 
in abundance. nearlv so. in another. Again, a lure that cives 
Generally speaking, the smaller fur bearers results for an animal one place does not always 
may be divided into two classes — those that eat a short distance away. That is why one trapper 
flesh and those that do not. Of course, the will state that muskrat flesh is best for mink 
raccoon will eat both, -so we will discuss it while some other, just as successful perhaps, 
separately later. prefers rabbit, fish or small birds. 

The skunk, civet cat. mink, opossum and weasel Most beginners use too much bait and in 

eat meat. For bait make an oil by chopping places where it is unnecessary. As a rule, I 

up fish fine and letting it rot in an open-mouthed should not advise the employment of a decoy 

jar. A few drops of this will invariably draw unless the .set could not be made in any other 

the fur bearers mentioned. way. If meat is used for any of the smaller 

For muskrats — and most professionals do not animals, a little will go a great ways. And so 

use much attractor for catching them, since it it is with the scent. A few drops is enough, 

it unnecessary — beaver castors and alcohol are Too much often causes the fur bearers to become 

good. Chop up the castor fine and pour on the suspicious and leave when otherwise they would 

liquid until covered. Let it stand tightly corked have been taken. 



How to Prepare for 

The Fur Season 

MILLIONS will be paid in the next As to the number of traps to set, one must de- 
few months for raw furs. A large cide largely for himself. No more sets ought to 
per cent of this money will go di- be made than can be attended to properly. For 
rectly into the hands of those who the beginner who has but a limited time at his 
take the smaller animals. These trap- disposal each day, probably a dozen or two traps 
pers for the most part are farmer will be enough. " Of course' if the trapper is after 
boys and those who live in the rural communities, muskrats. a greater number of sets can generally 
The first thing the pelt hunter should do IS to ^e looked after than if the pelt hunter must 
locate his grounds pis ought to be done ^^.^ ; .^j ^^ ,„i^ ^ ^ j raccoon. 

By p annfng'the 'S "%nf can ^locnte 'the ''vt The fact that the "line" is near or far from 

riL.s dens and runwayk and know aw^^^ home must alw.ays be taken into consideration 

how many traps to employ. along with the character of the ground ; whether 

Pelt hunters do not realize how great their hard to travel or easy. ...... 

loss by taking the skins before thev are of good ^ The genuine Newhouse is the best trap manu- 

quality. Some states have laws prohibiting trap- factured. However, there are some cheaper 

ping until after the first of October — and some brands on the market which will answer every 

even later. Generally speaking, pelts secured purpose for smaller animals. Among these are 

before the first of November any place in the the Victor, a choice of an army of pelt hunters ; 

United States are not of good quality. the High Grip, so built that it catches high on 

Just before the first cold weather is probably the legs and lessens the chances of the fur bearers 

the best time to study the actions of the fur bear- to pull out, etc., etc. All of these are of the 

ers. for at this time they are especially bus.y Newhouse style. Then there are the popular 

storing up food and preparing their winter quar- Jump, Leap and Kangaroo traps. These actually 

ters. leap when sprung, insuring a good hold on the 



How to Trap 



11 



animal. While the styles mentioned will he found 
sufficient, lot ino add that such as the Stop Thief, 
Tree Trap and olliers also merit attention. 

In fliscussiiij; size in trai>s, (he novice had hest 
use that whicii the makers recommend for th<' 
particular animals. lOven professional pelt hun- 
ters disauree often as to size. l''or instance. I 
I)refer tlie Xo. for nuisUrats, as it is strong 
enoujjrh to hold the animals if ju'operly set anil 
does not hreal< the le;; hones so easily as the 
larger sizes. I'nlcss the pelt hunter is e.xperi- 
enced, I shotdd not advi.se him to e.xperiment 
with the small-sized trap when after muskrats, 
for it may cost him quite a few skins durint; tlie 
season. 

Traps ouRht never to be set when new. Rust 
them tirst. Personally, I prefer to wire my bunch 
together and Iniry for a week or so in slimy mud 
whicli will give them a dead black color. " Some 
rust their traps slightly, then stain with a 
"paint" made hy l)iiilin>r walnut husks and water. 
Test all traps before setting. If they spring' too 
hard, bend the tri^Ker slightly or use a tile. If 
they work too easily, bend the tri^Ker rest suf- 
ficiently in the proper direction. Search for de- 
fective chains. Should a trap not be in good work- 
ing order, don't run the chance of losing a skin hy 
employing it. 

The amateur, no doubt, will want some infor- 



mation on where to locate the dens of the dif- 
ferent fur bearers. 

The skunk ;ind civet cat — the latter, generally 
speaking, is conlined principally to thr> territory 
west of the .Mississipi)i river — it is fond of rough 
stony ground, especially if covered with wi-edH 
and brush. These animals se<'m to have no fear 
of man nor nearness of human habitation. It is 
not unusual to find them under houses, in barns, 
umler hay and straw i)ilcs and similar places. 
Along old hedges seems a favorite place for the 
animals also. 

The mink generally prefers to have its den 
along a small stream ratlier than a large, open 
one. The reason is that the small stream olTers 
it better opportunities for remaining concealed, 
as there is usually plenty of driftwood and weeds, 
along the bank. 

The raccoon is never found very far from 
woods and water. The opossum prefers the deep, 
dark forest. 

The weasel (known also as the ermine) is found 
almost any j)Iiice where there is food or some- 
thing to be killed which it is large enough to 
handle. In sod fields, along dried-up creek bot- 
toms, stone piles, etc., it may be trapped. 

The muskrat is always near water. The.se 
aninuils are most numerous in swamps, shallow 
lakes and streams. 



How to Trap The Fox 



THE fo xis one of the hardest of all fur- 
bearing animals to trap. Its sense of 
smell is so keen — its animal instinct so 
well developed — that even the profes- 
sional has ditticulty in getting the furs. 
In fact, the wolf is no more wary than 
the fox. 

Traps should be perfectly clean and never 
handled with the naked hands. It is best to 
smoke tliem over a fire of green boughs or 
feathers. Gloves ought to be used in making 
.sets, the palms of which are thickly coated with 
beeswax. Rubbing them in earth or dipping in 
blood is effective also to remove the odor. 

After traps are placd for the fox, it is best 
not to go closer than fifty or a hundred feet 
to see if they have been disturbed. Never take 
a dog over the line, for this will surely scare 
the game. 

For snow sets, traps may be whitened hy im- 
mersing in lime and water. Care must be used 
in handling, otherwise the "paint" will rub off. 

A good scent for foxes is desirable. Some of 
the patent mixtures are fine. However, a home- 
made attractor can be compounded by letting 
small fish rot in an open-mouthed jar and adding 
to the oil thus secured (1) the scent bags of a 
skunk, (2) scent hag of a mink, (3) some alco- 
hol. Of course the best draw is made from the 
■generative glands of the fox during mating 
season. Add a small quantity of alcohol. A 
few drops of this will seldom fail to bring 
results. 

As I said before, the fox is hard to capture. 
With skill one can arrange traps well conceale<l 
in brush, using some of the decoy mentioned or a 
chicken for lure. In the latter case it is best 
to wait until the fowl is rotten. At this time 
it draws better. 

Rotten eggs are used in some localities with 
success when after the fox. Of course the bait 
should never be on the trap but nearby in such 
a position that tlie animal in investigating will 
get caught. 

One of the best methods of trapping the fox, 
especially for beginners, is : Wade down a stream 
w'here there are signs of fox and make the set 
where the animals come nearest to the edge of 
the water. About two feet from shore put the 



trap in shallow water, concealing the jaws with 
moss, leaves, etc. Heyond this, place some of 
the scent mentioned and also a bait, preferably 
a chicken or rabbit. On the pan of the trap 
near the surface of the water, put a small piece 
of sod so it stands up and resembles a solid 
footing. The fox in locating such a set will 
endeavor, in case it is made correctly, to get 
the decoy without wetting its feet. As a result 
it will step on the sod-covered pan and get 
caught. 

One should not enter the water nor leave in 
the vicinity of a trap placed in the manner I 
have described. To do so would render the 
chances of success small. 

Similar sets may also be made at sjirings or 
other places where there are pools of water. 
Particularly are these valuable if they do not 
freeze. 

Old trappers often "bait a place" for these 
animals and get them in the habit of feeding 
there before the season opens. When this is 
done the animals seem to lose some of their 
cunning and can be captured easier than other- 
wise. Frecpiently sets may be made near car- 
cas.ses of cattle. The powdered manure from 
the stomach is generally used as a covering for 
the traps. One must make every effort to have 
his sets carefully hidden, otherwise they will 
prove of little value in getting fur. 

Where foxes are run by dogs thej' seem more 
shy than when not molested, and cannot be 
captured so easily. In fact traps concealed in 
jiaths which the animals use, often get the fur 
bearers. 

Other methods will suggest themselves to the 
pelt hunter when after the fox. Almost any of 
them u.sed for the skunk may be employed to 
good pdvantage. provided they are made carefully 
The great thing to avoid is human odoi'. Re- 
member, it requires great practice to get results, 
so do not be discouraged if the first few at- 
tempts fail. 



12 



How to Trap 



How to Trap Skunk, Civet, 

Raccoon and Opossum 

THE skunk and civet cat are easy to When shooting fur bearers, remember that 

take. They seem to have no fear of holes in the pelt — back or belly — affect the values 

springing a bright new trap that is of the skins. If possible, shoot so the bullets 

not concealed. While, therefore, it is range from the back of the head downward, out 

not necessary to conceal traps for this the neck. 

animal, I would advise doing so, as Should a skin be "stunk up" or some of the 

one can thus often take a wandering minJi or odor get on the clothes, it may be removed by 

raccoon. thoroughly washing, one or more times, in gasd- 

To conceal land sets, one should scoop out a line. Do this outdoors and be sure to let the 

hole large enough so that the jaws are just below vapor evaporate thoroughly before taking it in- 

the surface. If fine material is employed, such doors, otherwise there is danger from fire. 



as dirt and rotten wood, it is best to place a 
wad of cotton or wool under the pan so nothing 



The raccoon and opossum are much harder to 
take than either the skunk or civet cat, as their 



can get under it and interfere with the action animal instinct is better developed. Unless the 

when sprung. Always use a covering natural novice makes his sets in water, he is liable to 

to the place. — that is, dead leaves when sets are have some difficulty in taking many pelts, 

made in dead leaves ; green grass when sets are The raccoon is very strong, considering its 

made on green grass, etc. In cold weather, line size. I should recommend nothing smaller than a 

the excavation with dry material such as leaves, Number 1% trap. Further, fasten all traps in 

etc., before arranging the set, to prevent the trap deep water when able to do it and avoid the use 

from freezing to the ground. Traps so placed of small stakes also. The 'coon frequently when 

must he examined from time to time and the caught will gnaw its way loose. My method of 

bed of dry material changed. fastening traps for this fur bearer is to wire 

There are usually several skunks or civet cats them to rocks, etc., weighing from twenty to 

in each den. While sets may be arranged at twenty-five pounds each, which cannot be dragged 

the mouths of burrows, I prefer to use baited off. For the opossum, however, it is optional 

whether one employs 



traps placed in the im 
mediate vicinity of the 
burrows. One may thus 
take several skunks and 
civets in a single night 
from a single burrow. 

Built small V-shaped 
pens in the vicinity of 
the burrows. Use bloody 
meat for a decoy, cov- 
ered with a small quan- 
tity of grass so that 
it is hidden from crows 
and hawks. Guard the 
lure with one or more 
traps. 

I have found that 
good results may be ob- 
tained when small exca- 
vations are dug and a 
Kangaroo or Jump trap 
is concealed on top of a 
piece of meat. The 
animals in digging 
for the decoy will be 
caught. 




LAND SET. CONCEALS THE TRAP WITH A COVER- 
ING NATURAL TO THE PLACE. 



the Number 1 or !%• 
When tracks of the 
'coon are found — even 
the beginner cannot mis- 
take them, for they re- 
sem))le very closely the 
imprint of a baby's foot 
— build a small three- 
sided pen of rocks or 
sticks in shallow water 
not too far from shore. 
In the back part of this 
place a bait, guarding 
it with one or more 
concealed traps. When 
making sets of this 
kind it is best to 
leave as few signs as 
possible. 

The raccoon is the on- 
ly one of the smaller fur 
bearers which will eat 
both flesh and vegetables 
seemingly with little 
preference. Like its lar- 



W'arm, moonlight nights are best for taking the ger brother, the bear, it always appears hungry, so 

two fur bearers mentioned. They are more active a good bait is almost a necessity. Among those 

at this time, and den up, generally speaking, which I have employed successfully are : corn, 

when the weather gets real cold. fresh fish, clams, honey and canned salmon. I 

Some who are starting to trap for the first might also add that a patent lure will often 

time will have trouble in locating occupied dens: prove of value. 

you can learn to tell them by the general appear- If a large hollow log is found partly sub- 
ance — if the entrance seems used, if there are merged along a stream, place traps at each en- 
tracks about and droppings, — but a surer method trance-way. If the water is too deep, scoop out an 
is to reach into the den as far as possible and excavation for the traps ; if too shallow, generally 
take up a handful or two of dirt. In this dirt, a foundation for the sets mav be made of rocks, 
if the den is used by the skunk or civet, will sticks, mud, etc. I aim to have my sets covered 
genprall.Y be found long black, black and white, or with from three to four inches of water and con- 
white hair. cealed with soaked grass, leaves or moss. Em- 

When employing meat for bait, remember it ploy no lure of anv kind with the set I have just 

will attract dogs and cats also. Baited sets, given, for the first 'coon passing either up or 

therefore, ought not to be made too close to down the stream will attempt to enter the log 

human habitation. and. if the traps are placed properlv, get caught. 

The beginner, no doubt, will hesitate to trap The log set is emploved quite extensivelv for tak- 

both the skunk and civet because of the odor, ing the mink also. Onlv those logs having large 

AVith care, however, they may be taken with hollows can be expected to furnish ideal' places 

little inconvenience. When an animal is taken for taking the raccoon. 

in a trap and is alive, do not excite it more than Often natural places mav be discovered along 
is necessary. A small caliber rifle or pistol is the edae of a stream or lake where there are 
best to employ for killing. Shoot the animals signs of the fur bearers. When you find such a 
just back of the head so that the bullets cut the place, simply conceal traps there. Sets in run- 
spine and paralyze it. ways are effective also, provided, of course, the 



How to Trap 



13 



pelt hunter is skillful enough to place his traps 
properly. They must he coiuvaled thoroughly ; 
there should be little human scent, which means 
clean traps ; and last, hut not least, after the 
sets have l)een made tlie ground should look the 
same as l)efore the traps were arranged. 

I have found that conili honey smeared on 
rocks which protrude above the water not too 
far from shore, is very effective in attracting the 
raccoon. 

The opossum in the past has been known to 



the trade as a "cheap fur." During the last two 
years, however, f'elts have been in excellent de- 
mand and they are almost sure to be this coni- 
inj; winter and spring. 

iioth the opossum and raccoon are considere<l 
a delicacy by many and often a market may be 
found for the carcass. When this is true, trap- 
pin^i thes(> fur bearers is prolit.-ibli- indeed. 

I'ractically every method in<'ntione<l for taking 
the raccoon may be emidoyed in catchin;,' the 
'possum. 



How to Trap the Mink, 

Weasel, and Muskrat 



T 



HE mink is one of the hardest of all with leaves or urass to j,'ive it a natural ap- 
small fur-bcariii}; animals to take in 
steel traps. It has a keen sen.se of 
smell and is very suspicious, so I ad- 
vise the bet,'inner to contine his efforts two openinf.'s a few inches wide. When the cur- 



pearance, it will [irove more effective. 

In very small, shallow ci-eeks make a dam with 
small stakes a few inches apart, leaving one or 



to traps i)laced in water. 
The weasel (ermine) has not as keen animal 
instinct. It may be trapi)ed by the befjinner. 



rent is swift, brush, etc., will probably collect. 
This must be taken away. In the openin;rs 
are Kood places for traps. Further, when the ice 



provided he uses an attractive lure and knows freezes and the animals tnnel beneath it, tliese 



how to conceal his sets fairly well. 

Inder ol<l bridges — especially if the sides are 



.sets will often produce wonderful results 

In sprin^rs or flowinj; tides which do not freeze, 



made of rock — are good places to make sets for good sets may often be arran;.'ed for the mink, 
mink. If there are "slides" leading into the When streams are frozen and the weather Is 
water, all one needs to do is to place his traps at not too cold, chop a hole in the ice where the 
the bottom, in two or three inches of water, water is not deep and the current not too swift. 
Whenever possible, I should advise the fastening Lower into the hole a bag of coarse salt, jdac- 



to be made where 
it is deep, for in this 
case the animal will 
d i V e w h e n caught, 
tangle the chain, and 
drown. 

If two streams come 
together at a sharp an- 
gle, tunnel from one to 
the other so that the 
water will flow through 
the excavation. Place a 
trap at each entrance. 
This tunnel will furnish 
an ideal place for trap- 
ping the mink as long as 
the water does not freeze, 
for every fur bearer pass- 
ing will attempt to en- 
ter in search of food. I 
should advise that all 
mud, etc., from the exca- 
vation be disposed of 
and that each entrance 
be concealed, or partl.v 
concealed, with weeds or 
grass, giving the place 
a natural appearance. 
Dash water over the 
sets after completed 




WATER SET. BUILD SJfALL V-SHAPED PEN'S IX 

SHALLOW WATER WHERE THERE ARE SIGNS OF 

THE MINK. 



ing the trap on toj) of 
it. The .sail will have a 
tendency to prevent 
freezing, and the first 
mink passing will at- 
atempt to enter the wa- 
ter. If the set has been 
made properly, the ani- 
mal will be caught. The 
best timeto iimke a set of 
this kind is late in the 
evening, so there will be 
less chance of the trap 
being covered with ice. 
Land sets may also 
be employed. Success 
with these depends large- 
ly upon one's ability to 
conceal his traps. Be 
very sure your traps are 
Iierfectly clean and have 
no odor. Wear gloves 
the palms of which 
have been thickl.v coated 
with beeswax, in mak- 
ing the sets. Have the 
place look as natural 
after as before the trap 
was placed. Rubbing 
the gloves with fresh 



Flowing tiles are good places to take the mink, earth or dipping them in blood before handling 

If there are no tracks about, place the trap the traps often will help also. 

with the spring near the drain. If there are Warm, rainy nights are best for trapping the 

sigHS, reverse the trap. Should the tile be stopped mink. It is more active at this time than when 

up, dig it out. extremely cold. 

Along the edges of the water, dig shallow The first thing one should do in trapping the 

pockets. In the back part, place a small piece weasel is to find its hunting grounds. Almost 

of muskrat flesh. (Juard this with one or more any kind of a meat bait will prove effective. A 

traps. Remember, if water is dashed over places concealed trap, with the head of a rabbit for 

where sets are made, all human odor will be de- lure. i)laced under an upturned sod, should be 

stroved. effective. 

Fish and small frogs are good bait. A reliable The muskrat is able to adapt it.self to "en- 
patent lure will invariably prove a wise invest- croaching civilization" and does not seem to 
ment when trapping the mink.-4 mind whether human habitation is near or not, 

IJuild small V-shaped pens in shallow water so long as food can be obtained. Generally speak- 
where there are signs of the mink. In the back ing. the muskrat i.s found all over America, 
part place a meat bait. Guard with one or more The muskrat is the only one of the smaller 
traps. If one can arrange this set and drape it animals that eats vegetables exclusively. The 



14 



How to Trap 



best baits — of the natural kind — are apples, corn, 
parsnips, potatoes, carrots, or in fact almost any 
vegetable that the niuskrats could not get easily 
for themselves. If the animals have an abun- 
dance of corn near them, use apples. The idea 
is to offer them something that they cannot easily 
get in nearby fields. 

Most muskrats are taken early in the season, 
notwithstandins the fact that they get their 
best pelts late in winter and spring. The reason 
for this is obvious when one considers that dur- 
ing the codl weather the muskrat is not very 
active. 

Most pelt hunters prefer the Number One trap 
for taking this fur bearer. This will be found 
very effective, especially if the fastening may be 
made in deep water so the animals will drown 
when caught. 

The easiest way to catch the muskrat is to 
arrange traps at the foot of slides — usually not 
too close together — in about three inches of wa- 
ter. I mention this depth for the reason that 
traps placed in shallower water invariably catch 
the fur bearers by the short and weak front 
legs, rather than by the longer and stronger 
hind ones. Employ no bait of any kind. If the 
water is too deep, build a foundation of mud, 
stones or other material ; if too shallow, scoop 
out an excavation. 

In shallow water, build small mound.s, the tops 
of which are just above the surface. Scoop out 



excavations and conceal with water-soaked leaves 
or grass, traps. The excavations ought to be 
deep enough so that when the traps are in posi- 
tion they will be covered with water. It is not 
necessary to employ a lure. Muskrats travel- 
ing up or down the stream will climb the mounds 
and may get caught. 

Often runways may be found leading from one 
shallow pond to another. These are water trails, 
probably a foot or so wide and a few inches deep. 

Traps set at the entrances almost invariably 
ai"e successful. 

Another good plan is to place small pieces of 
bait on a small, inclined stick. The parsnip is 
very good because of its pungent odor. Under 
the decoys set one or more traps. 

I have taken the skins in the following man- 
ner : First, I arrange a pumpkin in shallow wa- 
ter, build a sort of fence around the pumpkin 
with sticks, leaving three or four openings 
guarded with traps. 

In shallow water, incline a board at a sharp 
angle, one end firmly wedged in the mud and the 
other a few inches above the surface of the 
water. This board ought to be about six inches 
wide, supported at one end with two stakes hold- 
ing it firmly. Arrange two nails at a suitable 
depth below the water to catch and hold the 
trap .securely. On the board, above the water, 
place the bait. A muskrat in climbing the board 
will get caught. 



Spring Trappini 



THE coming of spring means the end of 
the trapper's work. All winter he has 
followed the trap line, sometimes 
pleased, and again suffering disappoint- 
ment, yet, after all, the occupation has 
been a healthful one, and profitable 
as well, if the trapper has been industrious and 
willing to work. 

As winter breaks up in the northern latitudes, 
animals start to "shed," that is. lose their heavy, 
fine fur. and as the weatlier becomes warmer, 
soon nothing but coarse hair remains. 

The muskrat, a water animal, is at its best 
durinc the spring months. Trappers turn their 
attention to trapping this rodent, and some years 
find that it pays. 

The muskrat is found in all parts of the Ignited 
States. Alaska and Canada. Its home is around 
the lakes, ponds, marshes, creeks and rivers, or 
any swamp. They live in dens in the banks of 
the stream, with tlie entrance under water or 
close to the edge. In the ponds and marshes 
they build houses out in the water, where it is 
shallow, and ofttimes quite a number occupy the 
same house. 

The musk of the female muskrat makes a very 
good scent to catch the male. Vegetable foods 
are best bait for muskrat. Corn, beets, parsnips, 
apples and the like, prove luring. 

It is in the sprinc when meat bait fails. The 
trariper should be sure to purchase a prepared 
scent. If you try one firm's witliout success, 
keep trying until you run onto the right bait. 
As soon as you have found a scent that will de- 
coy the muskrat to your trap, the battle is won. 

A good way to fix a trap in a water-set so as 
to drown the muskrat is to take a piece of No. 
9 wire five or six feet long. Wire a small stone 
to one end, slin the ring of tlie trap over the 
other end so it will slide down to the rock, 
which should be nlaced in deep water, the otiier 
end being fastened to the bank by a stake. Wlien 
the muskrat is caught, he will make a plunge 
for deen water, sliding the ring to the rock. Have 
a small loop in the wire close to the rocl{ so 
the ring will go into it. This prevents him from 
pulling back to the bank. 

In the South and Southwest, furs become very 
poor early in the spring. March furs show signs 



of shedding, and are as poor as April-caught fur 
in the North. 

The mink is the first animal to show effects 
of spring. In February, the mink loses the dark, 
long, silky fur, and becomes faded and coarse. 

Fur-bearing animals start to run in the early 
spring. Skunks show up very poorly as soon as 
warm weather starts and snow is gone. 

As soon as the trapper sees he is getting poor 
fur. that is tlie time to stop. Do not continue to 
slay the animals, because it is only killing off 
the fur bearer that another winter may get in 
your own trap and make good money for you. 

INIany a trapper, who has kept on when he 
knew it was too late, felt very badly when he 
found a female in his trap, be it mink, otter or 
any other animal, and found she was carrying 
her young, and he had not only slain the mother 
but had also taken the lives of the little ones. 

The raccoon in the North retains its heavy 
coat of fur until far into the spring, and in those 
states where the law permits can be hunted and 
trapped with profit until very warm, spring 
weather. 

in the far North, fur remains good until far 
into the sprine. 

Furs should all he shipped before warm 
weather comes. Some trappers hold back their 
furs until May and .lune. All fur exporters buy 
raw furs at any time of year, but prefer to get 
them before the weather gets warm, as moths 
and flies get into them very quickly. 

The trapper in the far South is up against 
the hardest part of the business. He has only a 
short month or two for trapping. Furs do not 
get prime in Florida, southern Alabama and 
southern Mississippi until the middle of Decem- 
ber, and by February they are very poor again, 
due to warm weather. 

Do not forget that in spring trapping, meat 
bait is virtually worthless without a good scent. 

In trapping, should you get hold of an animal, 
still alive, not injured by the trap, you may be able 
to dispose of the animal alive at a high price. 

A great many people are starting farms for the 
raising of foxes, skunks and other animals. In- 
deed, in Canada, breeders of the black and silver 
gray foxes are receiving thousands of dollars for 
sucii live animals. 



How to Trap 



15 



How Fur Dealers Try to Please 



rU dealers try to please their .sliipi)er.s reliable houses and only sufh are permitted to 
in every way possible. Those whe ad- advertise in C'omfoijt. If he wishes, he can have 



IP 

^ra vertise in the 

J^^ ni a i; azines — 

and Comfort 
is one of the mediums 
they seek, since it 
reaches so great a num- 
ber of trappers — linow 
that they must pay the 
highest price for skins, 
otherwise the ywill lose 
business. In fact I 
know of many instances 
where the check is real- 
ly larger than it should 
be, simply to encourage 
beginners. 

The beginner does not, 
as a rule, have his furs 
in the best possible con- 
dition. As a result, the 
highest prices cannot be 
paid. I might say — 
and I base my knowledge 
upon facts gleaned 
from years with buyers 
— that most of the com- 
plaints come from those 
who send in their goods 
and e.xpect for every hide 
the best price quoted. 
In looking over a list, re- 
member that there is a 
low and high value ; 
the latter only for the 
best pelts from the section mentioned 




PULL TnK HIDE DOWN OVER THE BODY UNTIL 

THE FRONT LEGS ARE RE.\CHED. WORK THESE 

OUT. 



valuation. 
One does not take much risk in shipping to quested. 



Most do 



his shii)ments held sep- 
arate and in i-iso tlie 
valuation does not meet 
w i t h the owner's ap- 
proval, all he nee<ls to 
do is to re(|uest it sent 
back. On such lots as 
these the shipper must 
riMiuest the buyer to 
give him tlie valuation. 
Write a letter asking 
this special service 
as soon as the goods 
are shipped. Unless 
one does this, his furs 
cannot be sent back, 
for they are mixed 
with thousands of 
others and cannot be 
picked out. 

Green furs, or those 
tainted, will not beheld. 
The former will spoil, 
and the latter to l)e of 
value at all. must have 
attention.' I»o not, 
therefore, ask ship- 
ments to be valued be- 
fore selling if they are 
not in good condition. 
Unreasonable requests 
cannot be granted. 

There are a few con- 
cerns that will hold all 
shipments in good condi- 
tion, and will submit the 
not, however, unless re- 



Suggestions for Trappers 



A small hand axe will he found handy for the 
pelt hunter. With it he can chop stakes, make 
excavations for sets, etc. 

A bit of white paper or cloth will sometimes 
attract the muskrat. It is well to try this when 
all other baits fail. 

Never take a dog over the trap line. It will 
have a tendency to scare the fur bearers. 

Sets around the carcas.ses of cattle and sheep 
often bring good results, especially when after 
skunk and civet cat. 

Short pieces of flexible wire will be found 
handy in staking sets for muskrat. 'coon and 
mink in deep water. If possible, have the fur 
bearers drown as soon as they are caught so no 
skins are lost. 

Skunk grease is hard to sell. Oo to your local 
druggist and see if he cannot find you a market 
for it. 

The flesh of the raccoon and opossum may be 
sold in many places. If you live near a large 
city, a market may be had with restaurants, ho- 

Do not approach sets for mink closer than 
necessary to see if they are disturbed. How- 
ever, baits ought to be changed every ten days 
at least so that they do not get stale. 

Parcel Post shipments go best insured. If they 
are lost or damaged, the owner will not suffer 
a loss. 



Do not tise meat too close to houses. It will 
attract dogs and cats as well as fur bearers, 
tels, etc. Often muskrats can be disposed of 
also. 

A flashlight for trappers will be found handy 
for the beginner in locating tracks and signs. 
Always carry one on the line. 

Never shoot small animals alive in the traps 
with the exception of the skunk and civet. Others 
may best be killed with a club. 

Always ship skins flesh side out — at least the 
small fiir bearers mentioned in this booklet, with 
the exception of the weasel. Graders prefer them 
that way. 

Be sure your name and address, with the 
number and kind of hides, are in each lot. Write 
your dealer any other instructions you deem 
necessary. 

■Most of the muskrats are taken in the fall 
for the reason that the fur bearers are most 
active then. I^ater when their pelts get better 
thev do not run much. 

Crows, blue.1ays and hawks are worthless as 
decoys. Do not use them. 

Be sure all superfluous flesh and fat are 
scraped from the skin before it is stretched. 
Unless this is done, the fur is liable to taint, 
especially in warm weather. 

Continued on Page 16. 



16 



How to Trap 



How to Prepare Furs for Market 

THE preparation of furs for market is avoid spoiled furs is to ship them as soon as 
almost as important as catching them, they are cured. The one who does this generally 
Even the most valuable skins may be has more to show for his labor than one who lets 
ruined through ignorance or lack of two or three hides spoil while waiting for an 
attention to details. advance which may never come. 

Dealers generally prefer the pelts Hang your catch in a cool, shady place where 
skinned as follows : Skunk, civet, opossum, mink there is plenty of air. Never dry them in the 
and muskrat "cased" — that is, not cut down the sun or over a fire. 

belly — and raccoon "open." With the possible Traps for the smaller animals ought to be at- 
exception of the finer Northern and Northeastern tended to every morning and the skins removed 
mink, all hides ought to be shipped flesh side as soon as possible. 

out and dried that way. Some buyers recom- When animals are frozen stiff, they ought to be 
mend the weasel dried and sent fur side out, so thawed before the pelt is removed. It is best to 
it will not he necessary to turn the pelt to as- place them in a pail of cold water or in a 
certain if it is prime. When weasels are sent spring. When this is done, no damage can re- 
fur side out, along with other skins, it is best to suit. I have known of furs being ruined be- 
wrap them separately so they will not be soiled cause they were singed over a blaze in thawing, 
by grease and dirt. While grease and dirt on When shipping, it is best to pack securely in 
tile fur does not affect the value, it has been burlap and ship by express, especially if the lot 
my experience that appearance in skins offered weighs more than five or six pounds and the dis- 
for sale is frequently paid for in real money. tance is greater than a hundred miles. In the in- 

I'se a sharp knife for skinning. Take long side of your shipment, i)lace your name and ad- 
strokes so that the edges of the skin are not dress, together with the count and kind of furs, 
ragged. In "cased" pelts, start at the hind legs It is advisable to notify your dealer just what 
and work toward the crotch, loosening the hide, you send and give him your instructions by letter 
Next, split open the tail as far as possible, and just as soon as the package leaves your hands, 
pull out the bone. After this, pull the hide Some agents will not accept skunk except when 



down over the body un- 
til the front legs are 
reached. Work these out. 
Next slip the skin 
down to the ears, cut 
beneath and also around 
the eyes, then over the 
nose. The tails of the 
muskrat and opossum 
have no value, so it is 
not necessary to skin 
them. 

In giving these in- 
structions, remember I 
am treating only the 
smaller animals. The 
lynx. bear, etc., must, if 
used for mounting pur- 
poses, be perfect as to 
feet and claws. 

With "cased" skins, 
employ steel stretchers 
or boards fashioned to 
fit. These should, prefer- 
ably, be mad eof soft 
wood, the edges tapering 
and not sharp. If boards 
are employed, the hides 
may be held in place 
with tacks or small nails. 
Be sure to remove all 
fat and flesh. Unless 
this is done, the fure 
are liable to become 
"grease burned" or 
"taint." In this condi- 
tion they are worth very 
little, often nothing. 




START AT THE HIND LEGS AND WORK TOWARD 
THE CROTCH, LOOSENING THE HIDE. 



boxed. In this case, one 
must follow the instruc- 
tions and prepare his 
package accordingly. 
When shipping by Parcel 
Post it is best to insure 
the package. It is per- 
missible to place your 
name and address inside 
the parcel post package, 
together with the num- 
ber of asking, but the reg- 
ulations prohibit any let- 
ter of instructions. This, 
however, when placed in 
a sealed envelope carr.v- 
ing first-class postage, 
may be attached to the 
shipment. 

It is absolutely neces- 
sary that you write your 
name and address plain- 
ly when sending in your 
furs. Every year large 
buyers have many ship- 
ments they cannot pay 
for, because they do not 
know who sent them. If 
you do not hear from 
your lot within a reason- 
able length of time, write 
the one to whom they 
were consigned, asking 
the reason. Generally re- 
turns are made same day 
packages are received. 

If you desire your 
goods "held separate" 



Use no preparation of any kind on furs, unless so that you can know the buyer's offer before they 

of course at the beginning of the fur season, when are sold — request this by letter as soon as the 

they are liable to spoil. In this case, salt the shipment is made. If the bid is too low, in vour 

skins. Salted pelts do not bring as much as estimation, you may ask the return of your" lot. 

those cured in a natural way, yet more than Remember, if good."? are not ordered "held sepa- 

tainted and "grease burned" skins. One way to rate," it is impossible to have them sent back. 



{Suggestions for Trappers. Cont.) 

Warm, rainy nights are best for taking the 
mink. However, the animal travels in the coldest 
weather, and, unlike the skunk and civet, does 
not den up. 

Go over your proposed trapping grounds early 
in the season. It will pay you in locating the 
signs and runways. Dens are easy to locate also. 



In the spring, sets for skunk must be watched 
closely. If a male is captured and another dis- 
covers it, they are sure to fight. The caught 
animal is certain to get the worst of it. Guard 
hairs are cut out and the hide is not pleasant 
to handle due to the odor. 

When once an animal is captured, do not pull 
up the set. Soon another undoubtedly will be 
captured. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



nil nil I ii< I III Mil mil 
002 903 979 3 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



002 903 979 3 



